Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 172,055	$ 139,590	$ 57,516
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of marketable securities	(1,767)	(819)	(4,956)
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	0	(21,947)	0
Company's share of gain on the sales of co-investment	(41,252)	(29,112)	(919)
Gain on the sales of real estate	(30,725)	(10,870)	(8,562)
Loss on early retirement of debt	300	5,009	1,163
Co-investments	5,023	1,626	7,929
Amortization expense	12,216	11,644	11,474
Amortization of discount on notes receivables	(844)	(1,832)	(1,757)
Amortization of discount on marketable securities	(6,556)	(5,127)	(4,794)
Depreciation	193,518	170,686	152,542
Equity-based compensation	4,508	4,141	2,927
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,588)	(9,488)	(1,172)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	72	12,360	3,620
Other liabilities	22	1,638	1,560
Net cash provided by operating activities	304,982	267,499	216,571
Additions to real estate:
Acquisitions of real estate	(348,774)	(393,771)	(57,478)
Improvements to recent acquisitions	(21,240)	(13,704)	(16,446)
Redevelopment	(42,035)	(39,027)	(45,130)
Revenue generating capital expenditures	(5,254)	(7,620)	(7,616)
Lessor required capital expenditure	(8,641)	(1,173)	0
Non-revenue generating capital expenditures	(27,038)	(30,491)	(26,090)
Acquisition of and additions to real estate under development	(17,757)	(29,196)	(79,194)
Acquisition of membership interest in co-investment	0	(85,000)	0
Dispositions of real estate	65,496	27,800	23,003
Changes in restricted cash and refundable deposits	(9,149)	(6,069)	(1,376)
Purchases of marketable securities	(16,442)	(73,735)	(8,048)
Sales and maturities marketable securities	24,172	61,703	32,998
Purchases of and advances under notes and other receivables	(56,750)	(26,000)	(12,325)
Collections of notes and other receivables	53,438	14,525	884
Contributions to co-investments	(162,578)	(260,153)	(246,106)
Non-operating distributions from co-investments	118,856	49,773	17,141
Net cash used in investing activities	(453,696)	(812,138)	(425,783)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements	969,061	1,745,853	1,514,684
Repayment of debt	(750,900)	(1,371,317)	(1,435,135)
Additions to deferred charges	(7,402)	(6,707)	(5,533)
Payments to settle derivative instruments	0	0	(2,395)
Net proceeds from issuance of Preferred stock, Series H	0	0	71,209
Retirement of Series B preferred units and Series F Preferred stock	0	0	(103,800)
Equity related issuance cost	(617)	(309)	(627)
Net proceeds from stock options exercised	4,958	2,643	6,986
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	138,366	357,720	323,931
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	0	2,400	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(18,488)	(16,691)	(16,963)
Redemption of limited partners units and noncontrolling interest	(5,711)	(6,986)	(5,387)
Common and preferred stock dividends paid	(180,668)	(156,250)	(138,622)
Net cash provided by financing activities	148,599	550,356	208,348
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(115)	5,717	(864)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	18,606	12,889	13,753
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	18,491	18,606	12,889
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of $16,486, $10,346, and $8,240 capitalized in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively	103,516	95,597	89,691
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Transfer from real estate under development to rental properties	68	6,632	165,214
Transfer from real estate under development to co-investments	27,906	0	54,472
Transfer from co-investments to rental properties	0	148,053	0
Mortgage notes assumed in connection with purchases of real estate including the loan premiums recorded	0	82,133	20,927
Contribution of note receivable to co-investment	0	12,325	0
Change in accrual of dividends/ distributions	5,575	5,441	3,206
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities	4,185	4,461	230
Change in fair value of marketable securities	3,222	459	2,836
Change in construction payable	2,655	1,113	2,518
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	172,055	139,590	57,516
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of marketable securities	(1,767)	(819)	(4,956)
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	0	(21,947)	0
Company's share of gain on the sales of co-investment	(41,252)	(29,112)	(919)
Gain on the sales of real estate	(30,725)	(10,870)	(8,562)
Loss on early retirement of debt	300	5,009	1,163
Co-investments	5,023	1,626	7,929
Amortization expense	12,216	11,644	11,474
Amortization of discount on notes receivables	(844)	(1,832)	(1,757)
Amortization of discount on marketable securities	(6,556)	(5,127)	(4,794)
Depreciation	193,518	170,686	152,542
Equity-based compensation	4,508	4,141	2,927
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,588)	(9,488)	(1,172)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	72	12,360	3,620
Other liabilities	22	1,638	1,560
Net cash provided by operating activities	304,982	267,499	216,571
Additions to real estate:
Acquisitions of real estate	(348,774)	(393,771)	(57,478)
Improvements to recent acquisitions	(21,240)	(13,704)	(16,446)
Redevelopment	(42,035)	(39,027)	(45,130)
Revenue generating capital expenditures	(5,254)	(7,620)	(7,616)
Lessor required capital expenditure	(8,641)	(1,173)	0
Non-revenue generating capital expenditures	(27,038)	(30,491)	(26,090)
Acquisition of and additions to real estate under development	(17,757)	(29,196)	(79,194)
Acquisition of membership interest in co-investment	0	(85,000)	0
Dispositions of real estate	65,496	27,800	23,003
Changes in restricted cash and refundable deposits	(9,149)	(6,069)	(1,376)
Purchases of marketable securities	(16,442)	(73,735)	(8,048)
Sales and maturities marketable securities	24,172	61,703	32,998
Purchases of and advances under notes and other receivables	(56,750)	(26,000)	(12,325)
Collections of notes and other receivables	53,438	14,525	884
Contributions to co-investments	(162,578)	(260,153)	(246,106)
Non-operating distributions from co-investments	118,856	49,773	17,141
Net cash used in investing activities	(453,696)	(812,138)	(425,783)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements	969,061	1,745,853	1,514,684
Repayment of debt	(750,900)	(1,371,317)	(1,435,135)
Additions to deferred charges	(7,402)	(6,707)	(5,533)
Payments to settle derivative instruments	0	0	(2,395)
Net proceeds from issuance of Preferred stock, Series H	0	0	71,209
Retirement of Series B preferred units and Series F Preferred stock	0	0	(103,800)
Equity related issuance cost	(617)	(309)	(627)
Net proceeds from stock options exercised	4,958	2,643	6,986
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	138,366	357,720	323,931
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	0	2,400	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(8,016)	(6,957)	(6,052)
Redemption of limited partners units and noncontrolling interest	(5,711)	(6,986)	(5,387)
Common and preferred stock dividends paid	(191,140)	(165,984)	(149,533)
Net cash provided by financing activities	148,599	550,356	208,348
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(115)	5,717	(864)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	18,606	12,889	13,753
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	18,491	18,606	12,889
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of $16,486, $10,346, and $8,240 capitalized in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively	103,516	95,597	89,691
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Transfer from real estate under development to rental properties	68	6,632	165,214
Transfer from real estate under development to co-investments	27,906	0	54,472
Transfer from co-investments to rental properties	0	148,053	0
Mortgage notes assumed in connection with purchases of real estate including the loan premiums recorded	0	82,133	20,927
Contribution of note receivable to co-investment	0	12,325	0
Change in accrual of dividends/ distributions	5,575	5,441	3,206
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities	4,185	4,461	230
Change in fair value of marketable securities	3,222	459	2,836
Change in construction payable	$ 2,655	$ 1,113	$ 2,518